I'm getting shocked when I test my water

sjk2840

sjk2840

Member
it's been awhile since I've been on the forum. Just curious about this pump I have running my skimmer. I have an ASM G1 skimmer and a Sunday G500 pump running the skimmer. Thought it was my imagination, but everytime I would stick my fingers in the water I felt a shock. The skimmer pump is the only electrical piece of equipment that sits in the water, everything else is external. Unplugged the sump and no shocks. Has anyone ever heard of this pump?? Is it any good??? I did contact the store where I purchased it from. Still waiting to hear an answer.
Thanks
 
mkroher

mkroher

Member
sounds like there is a short in the pump.. and when you touch the water.. you provide the ground, complete the circuit, and you get shocked.
the pump is faulty. replace it.
 
salt210

salt210

Active Member
but it using a bird sitting on a powerline isnt true. if you are to grab a extension cord for example do you get shocked?
I am going to stick with the grounding probe in my tank
that statement is as far as I got
 
mkroher

mkroher

Member
Originally Posted by salt210
http:///forum/post/3070697
but it using a bird sitting on a powerline isnt true. if you are to grab a extension cord for example do you get shocked?
I am going to stick with the grounding probe in my tank
that statement is as far as I got

an extension cord has a protective "jacket" surrounding the wires, that's why we don't get shocked.
powerlines are exposed.
 
sjk2840

sjk2840

Member
mkroher, thanks for the link to that article. I'm not an electrician, but the article made total sense to me. I've never had issues with electrical currents running through any of my aquariums-most of my tanks have had at least 2 powerheads and heaters submerged and never once have I ever gotten shocked from them, and I have never used grounding probes.This tank is built into my wall and everything except the skimmer is plumbed outside of my sump. The only thing electric in the water is my skimmer pump. The "fish store" where I purchased my set up is sending me a grounding probe to see if that corrects the problem-I'm thinking it wont. I will try it and see. In the meantime I've unplugged my skimmer.

Also, the tank has been up for about 5 months and this problem just started about 2 weeks ago. I wasnt sure if i was "really" getting a shock or if it was just my imagination. Yesterday when I did a water change and stuck my hydrometer into the water I felt a shock go through my hydrometer. That is why I think i have a faulty pump.
 
briand7878

briand7878

Member
If I were you I would use a volt reader. Take a reading with what you have plugged in. Unplug your pump and see if it changes. I was getting shocked one time because my light cord was getting in the water and I didnt see it.
 
mkroher

mkroher

Member
Originally Posted by sjk2840
http:///forum/post/3070828
mkroher, thanks for the link to that article. I'm not an electrician, but the article made total sense to me. I've never had issues with electrical currents running through any of my aquariums-most of my tanks have had at least 2 powerheads and heaters submerged and never once have I ever gotten shocked from them, and I have never used grounding probes.This tank is built into my wall and everything except the skimmer is plumbed outside of my sump. The only thing electric in the water is my skimmer pump. The "fish store" where I purchased my set up is sending me a grounding probe to see if that corrects the problem-I'm thinking it wont. I will try it and see. In the meantime I've unplugged my skimmer.

Also, the tank has been up for about 5 months and this problem just started about 2 weeks ago. I wasnt sure if i was "really" getting a shock or if it was just my imagination. Yesterday when I did a water change and stuck my hydrometer into the water I felt a shock go through my hydrometer. That is why I think i have a faulty pump.
The probe will most likely correct your "shocking problem".. because it's easier for the faulty pump to complete the circuit through the probe, and not your hand.
Just because you're not getting shocked anymore, doesn't mean the problem went away. I really think you need to replace that pump.
Try putting the probe in the sump with the skimmer, not the display tank.
 
sjk2840

sjk2840

Member
The probe should be here tomorrow. I'll test and see, I believe its the pump, I guess the fish store will try to do anything as to not have to replace my pump for "free".
I also dont have any cords hanging around the water, they are completely out of the way of the sump. I've done process of elimination-it's gotta be the pump.
I look at it this way: why wasnt I getting shocked when I first set the tank up without using a probe, this problem just started, all things are pointing to the pump.
I appreciate everyones input-thanks
 
small triggers

small triggers

Active Member
Im assuming you are talking about the SEDRA pump? that is the ones that come with the ASM skimmers. Did you buy this skimmer new? did you fill out the warranty card and send it back to ASM? they should replace the pump, it is a warranty issue, not a LFS issue.
 
sjk2840

sjk2840

Member
smalltriggers, I thought I was getting the Sedra pump with my ASM skimmer, I thought it was how they were packaged. BUT I ended up with a Sunday G500 pump-never heard of that brand before, nor can I find any info on it. It looks like a Sedra pump-dosent work like one though. I am going to try to get a refund on this pump and get a Sedra-the store I'm dealing with is not my LFS, but a site from the internet. Learned my lesson-always support your LFS.
No warranty card came with this pump either.
 
scsinet

scsinet

Active Member
I'll say this loud and clear. A grounding probe is not a "fix" for a failed piece of equipment. If you know you have a seal failure in a piece of equipment that is energizing the water column, putting a grounding probe in only attacks the symptom, and creates a far more dangerous problem. It "might" make the shocks stop, but you'll have a constant current flow through the water, which is crazy dangerous.
DO NOT simply put a grounding probe in the water and be done with it, contarary to what has been posted in this thread, this is not smart or safe.
Adding a grounding probe is fine, provided you use a GFI as well. Using a grounding probe without a GFI is a dangerous practice.
If you know the pump is faulty, do as the second post suggested. Replace the pump, period.
 
gmann1139

gmann1139

Active Member
Ditto to SCSI. That is the most dangerous thing I've ever heard of a LFS doing.
If you don't remove that pump, its just going to get worse, and may end up killing your livestock if they get between the probe and the pump.
Oh, and get a GFCI. If I'd put one on my 30g tank last fall, I might have not had it get nuked by a cracked heater.
 
sjk2840

sjk2840

Member
OK- I'm convinced. I am requesting either a store credit toward a new pump or a refund on the pump I have. I'm guessing that nobody has ever heard of the pump I have-it looks like an imitation of the Sedra pump. Obviously it dosent work like the Sedra pump. The "fish" store that I'm dealing with seems to not want to fix the problem, but only put a band-aid on it. I agree with all of you, NEW PUMP. I dont want to lose any of my fish. The skimmer has been turned off since I posted this- my son was also shocked when he stuck his fingers in the water.
 
scsinet

scsinet

Active Member
How do you "band aid" a pump with a failed water seal?
I wonder if they want to be liable for their "band aid" ...
 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
I was reading this and thinking.... why in the heck would I use a piece of equipment sending current into my tank where I would need a grounding probe? Totally 100% agree with SCSInet and saying don't mask the problem.... fix it correctly.
A grounding probe might work.... but your really not fixing the problem. It's like saying there's a downed powerline in my front yard but it's ok... I have caution tape around it.
 
gmann1139

gmann1139

Active Member
Originally Posted by SCSInet
http:///forum/post/3072765
How do you "band aid" a pump with a failed water seal?
I wonder if they want to be liable for their "band aid" ...
Band-aid = A solution that doesn't fix the problem, just covers it up. Kind of like using Amquel, or using chemical additives to buffer.
SJK, are you sure they sold you a 'new' unit, or did they possibly refurb it with a new, "Brand X" pump?
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
Originally Posted by SCSInet
http:///forum/post/3072615
I'll say this loud and clear. A grounding probe is not a "fix" for a failed piece of equipment. If you know you have a seal failure in a piece of equipment that is energizing the water column, putting a grounding probe in only attacks the symptom, and creates a far more dangerous problem. It "might" make the shocks stop, but you'll have a constant current flow through the water, which is crazy dangerous.
DO NOT simply put a grounding probe in the water and be done with it, contarary to what has been posted in this thread, this is not smart or safe.
Adding a grounding probe is fine, provided you use a GFI as well. Using a grounding probe without a GFI is a dangerous practice.
If you know the pump is faulty, do as the second post suggested. Replace the pump, period.
I can't agree more. If you find a piece of equipment that is doing this, replace it immediately.
 
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